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E46 (1999 - 2006) The fourth generation 3 Series (E46 chassis) was introduced in 1999 and set the standard for engineering and performance during it's years of production including being named to Car & Driver's 10 best list every one of those years! ! -- View the E46 Wiki

I put an Alcantrara M Steering Wheel on my car today. The wheel is awesome but after I reconnected my battery, everything is all screwy!

1.) The horn doesn't work (fuse is ok).
2.) The "all down" window switch only raises/lowers the rear windows.
3.) The "auto up/down" feature does not work on either side front window switch.
4.) The 5 mph "auto lock" (vehicle memory programmed) no longer works.

The top was not funtioning properly either at first. It was already down, but when I went to raise it, the boot would not open--the gears would grind but it would just sort of twitch. Finally after sitting a while and a couple ignition re-starts it fixed itself and seems to be working fine.

What did I do wrong? I thought I researched the DIY but have not heard anyone mention this happening before. I'm assuming it all happened when I reconnected the battery. What can I do? What should I tell the dealer when I take it in? I already have an annual service scheduled for next week. Is it just the memory/key programming and will I have to start from scratch and program everything over again? Did I fry something else??

Also, is there anything else not functioning that I'm not aware of yet?? I'm so upset!! After a whole year and only 3,900 miles my car has been perfect until now!

Not sure about the other items, but for the windows, isn't there a procedure to resynchronize the auto function? On my C240 it was just rolling the window down and then pulling the window switch up to the auto position and holding it there for about 10 seconds or so once the window was all the way up. That would fix it. I thought I read something about a similar process for my BMW but I can't find it right now. I think the same synchronization procedure is done with the sunroof as well if it isn't functioning correctly in the one-touch mode. I think your two window problems are the same issue, the "all down" command can't work if the auto down function isn't working on the front windows.

Yes; good news but now I'm thoroughly confused. I let my car sit overnight and took it out to the Post Office yesterday just to see if there might be some other functions not working I hadn't discovered yet.

To my surprise and joy... everything seemed to be working again!!(?) Both front window switches auto up/down functioning properly, All down switch fully functional on all windows, and my auto-lock is working fine (!). I really thought for sure I would have to get reprogrammed.

Well, almost everything came back--the horn still doesn't work.

So now I'm just confused and hope that there wasn't any permanent damage to whatever happend. And I still can't figure out why the horn wouldn't work--the most basic type of switch of all (push to make contact with grounded wheel metal frame). Any ideas?

The horn may be a problem with your steering wheel. As for the other oddities, I experienced EXACTLY the same things when I put my Alpine CD changer in. I disconnected the battery to do the connections and then flipped out when the top wouldn't go back up, windows wouldn't work correctly, alarm didn't arm, etc. after reconnecting it.

I did another disconnect and reconnect, then let it sit for a while after geting completely frustrated. I put my top up via the manual method and walked inside for about 15 minutes. Magically, everything started working again when I went back out and tried again.

As for the other oddities, I experienced EXACTLY the same things when I put my Alpine CD changer in.

Thanks for the post, it makes me feel better I'm not the first one this happened too. I'm guessing you haven't had any problems since.

As for the horn, I'll probably just ask the dealer when I take it in next Wednesday for the first annual service. My concern is, obviously my wheel isn't original. Will this affect the warranty as far as repairing/checking the horn?

So I had a friend do my steering wheel install to save a little $$, since I'm not too handy with a wrench and figured I'd screw something up. Two days ago I went in for my service appointment and asked them to look into the horn not working. My SA called me in the afternoon to ask me if I'd had my steering wheel changed ... when I confirmed he told me that the wire for the horn button was pinched and severed when the new wheel was put on!

No problem, he said, they could splice it together and put new insulator over the splice. $91.00 in labor. So much for saving money!

I LOVE my new wheel! I got the Alcantara M Sport wheel, and it's great. I could have gone either way actually, with leather or Alcantara. As I was looking for both I found a great deal on an Alcantara wheel so I went for it and I love it. The thicker M wheel is worth it no matter what it's covered with!